[ Sorry, Casey. When you spend the last six months stewing in everyone else you love thinks your only family member is a horrible monster, things sure get pent up. At least he’s venting in general and not at Casey in particular. And as much as he is absolutely not in a position to admit it, he feels that support Casey is giving him. It gives him a moment to catch his breath and actually answer instead of shutting Casey out, which would be his first impulse. ]

It was supposed to use everyone’s coven sigils to cleanse the Isles of wild magic. Everyone has some, so it hurt at first.

[ He carefully peels back the sleeve on his right forearm, showing a winged triangular sigil just above his wrist - and surrounded by deep cracking scars that travel all the way up to his elbow. ]

When the Collector corrupted it, it turned into a draining spell instead. Something that devours all your magic and kills you. That’s what the others think my uncle was trying to do.